Tabitha USA

Community Development Through Savings

Many poor Cambodian families have no house and virtually no possessions. Despite this poverty, most families generate a meagre weekly income; it may be by collecting and selling empty plastic bottles or cutting grass for sale to a farmer.

Tabitha community development workers help these families to develop a vision of a better life and encourage them to join the savings program.

Each savings "cycle" lasts ten weeks. The savings are collected weekly by Tabitha workers and returned with ten percent interest at the end of the cycle. Before starting to save, each family decides what they are saving for (their "dream") and is encouraged to purchase that item at the end of the cycle.

Saving the equivalent of 25 cents a week soon allows the purchase of life-transforming items such as a water pot, a set of crockery, clothes for the children, fishing net, a pig, a bicycle to take produce to market, etc. Some families save for a house.

If you are interested in donating to Tabitha's community development program, please visit our On-line Community Development Catalog.

Two years ago, this family had no possessions. After saving for two years for a house, an Australian building team helped them reach their goal. With further savings, in addition to their house, they now have a separate kitchen and a productive vegetable garden.